The salt flats of the Atacama Desert contain some of the world’s largest lithium reserves and are among the driest places on Earth, with extremely high levels of solar radiation.
Large evaporation ponds lined with impermeable geomembrane systems are used to extract lithium and other valuable minerals while protecting the surrounding environment. As evaporation occurs, salts and minerals settle in distinct layers that are periodically removed using heavy mechanical equipment.
During the extraction process, the machinery places extremely high loads on the geomembrane. Even when protected by a thick salt layer, damage can occur over time.
Any rupture of the geomembrane can lead to brine leakage, weakened subgrade conditions, and the loss of concentrated lithium that has taken months to produce. Repairs are costly and time-consuming, requiring production to stop while damaged liners are repaired and the evaporation process begins again.
To improve operational reliability, production efficiency, and long-term asset performance, PRS developed the Neoloy® Tough-Cells solution for geomembrane protection.
Manufactured from Novel Polymeric Alloy (NPA), PRS Neoloy® Tough-Cells provide exceptional engineering performance, including:
The Neoloy® cellular confinement system mechanically stabilizes both the protective salt layer and the foundation beneath it.
This reinforcement significantly improves the reliability of the geomembrane while allowing the protective salt cover to be reduced by approximately 50% without compromising performance.
The protective Neoloy® layer was filled with locally available salt and compacted, using approximately 50% less salt than would normally be required for an unreinforced protective layer.
The reinforced layer acts as a controlled buffer between heavy mining equipment and the geomembrane, providing reliable mechanical protection during extraction operations.
In addition, the stiff and durable Neoloy® Tough-Cells system significantly improves the bearing capacity of the underlying foundation.
The three-dimensional confinement system:
The result is reliable, long-term protection that supports continuous production while reducing maintenance and repair requirements.
The proprietary Novel Polymeric Alloy (NPA) used in PRS Neoloy® Tough-Cells provides exceptional long-term resistance to:
As a high-performance engineering thermoplastic, NPA is chemically inert, corrosion resistant, and highly durable under harsh environmental conditions, including:
These properties make PRS Neoloy® Tough-Cells ideally suited for demanding mining applications requiring long-term reliability.
Application
Geomembrane protection for lithium evaporation ponds
Subgrade / Soil
Evaporitic salt crust consisting primarily of sodium chloride and potassium chloride
Region
South America
Installation
2021
PRS Geo-Technologies is a global engineering, manufacturing, and technology company specializing in advanced soil stabilization solutions through its innovative Neoloy® Tough-Cells technology.
Manufactured from proprietary Novel Polymeric Alloy (NPA), Neoloy® Tough-Cells provide exceptional tensile strength, long-term durability, and resistance to permanent deformation, making them ideal for demanding infrastructure and mining applications.
Since its establishment in 1996, PRS has successfully implemented thousands of projects in more than 80 countries, delivering reliable and sustainable solutions for roads, railways, ports, retaining walls, mining operations, airports, and other critical infrastructure.
